Kabale University

Psychiatry

Prevention of mental illness and promotion of mental health

Mental health is a state of successful mental functioning, resulting in productive activities,

fulfilling relationships, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. Mental health
is indispensable to personal wellbeing, family and interpersonal relationships, and one's
contribution to society. Prevention and mental health promotion are important parts of
psychiatric care. The mere absence of mental illness does not mean that one has positive mental
health or a high quality of life.

Mental health promotion activities in communities

1. Programs that help young people develop problem-solving and coping skills, either in
school or in community-based organizations, such as peer leadership activities, suicide
prevention curricula, and life skills curricula.
2. Mentoring programs and activities that help a young person connect with a caring adult.
3. Home visiting programs in which nurses or other professionals work directly with
families to support parents, provide education about child development and promote
parent-child interaction.
4. Any activities that promote exercise, sleep, and good nutrition.
5. Projects that encourage help-seeking and reduce the stigma associated with mental
illness.
6. Creating spaces for communities to gather build relationships and identify common
needs.
7. Community dialogues about historical trauma.
8. Working on changing policies to reduce incarceration, substance abuse, or other adverse
childhood experiences.
Three Levels of Prevention

Prevention falls into three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary prevention targets
individuals who are at a high risk for developing a disorder; secondary prevention targets those
who are in the early stages of a disorder; and tertiary prevention targets individuals who already
have a disorder by seeking to reduce or eliminate its negative impact.

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention includes methods to avoid the occurrence of a disorder or disease altogether.
Most population-based health promotion efforts are of this type. This method targets individuals
and groups who have a high risk of developing a mental illness based on biological, social, or
psychological risk factors. Primary prevention programs might include teaching parents effective
parenting skills, distributing condoms to students who are at high risk for STIs or teen
pregnancy, or providing social support to children of divorce. Ares of interest in mental health
include;

Protecting the developing brain by genetic counseling, maternal immunization against rubella
virus, prenatal and parenting classes

Minimizing the predisposition to illness and increased resistance to the disease by educating the
mothers to avoid prolonged separation, child abuse and battering, teaching about prolonged use
of substance abuse, problem solving and conflict resolution, use of protective gears, adapting
coping measures etc

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention includes methods to diagnose and treat a disorder or disease in its early
stages before it causes significant distress. This approach also aims to lower the rate of
established cases. An example of a secondary prevention program is rape crisis counseling. After
being raped, an individual may develop or be in the early stages of developing a number of
disorders such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Early
intervention through counseling can help minimize the progression of one or more of these
mental health issues.

Medication maintenance, education, crisis intervention, etc once client symptoms are indentified
and interventions are initiated treatment focuses on minimizing long term disability

Tertiary Prevention

Tertiary prevention includes methods to reduce the negative impact of existing disorders or
diseases by reducing complications and restoring lost function. These methods include
interventions that prevent relapse, promote rehabilitation, and reduce the nature of the disorder.
Examples of tertiary prevention programs include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and home visits
to those who are chronically ill.